USA Track & Field on Thursday announced that 17 clubs have been designated as charter Elite Development Clubs for the upcoming 2008 Olympiad. The new designation system is intended to increase the visibility and enhance the number of year-round training environments available to post-scholastic and post-collegiate U.S. athletes.

The "Elite Development Club" designation identifies clubs with the commitment, resources, and record of providing significant assistance to nationally and internationally competitive athletes. That support enables athletes to continue high-level, competitive involvement in track & field, race waking and long-distance running.

"We are happy to announce this new initiative which, when combined with our national club championship events and the creation of a new Club Council, shows that USATF is committed to moving our club revitalization efforts forward," said USATF President Bill Roe. "By giving our top clubs this designation, it gives them the credit they deserve while also providing them a calling card of sorts as they pursue additional local support and sponsorships."

The nineteen clubs that have been designated as "Elite Development Clubs" for the 2008 Olympiad are (with the club's USATF Association affiliation in parenthesis): Asics Aggies Running Club (Pacific), Atlanta Track Club (Georgia), Boston Athletic Association (New England), Bryn Mawr Running Club (Mid-Atlantic), Club Northwest (Pacific Northwest), Farm Team (Pacific), Genesee Valley Harriers (Niagara), Greater Boston Track Club (New England), Hansons-Brooks (Michigan), Indiana Invaders (Indiana), Kansas City Smoke (Missouri Valley), Lords of the Rings (Wisconsin), Santa Monica Track Club (Southern California), Syracuse Chargers Track Club (Niagara), Team USA Minnesota (Minnesota), Team Eugene (Oregon), Track West (Southern California), Transport adidas (Pacific), and Wisconsin Runner Racing Team (Wisconsin).

"The selection of these seventeen clubs as charter Elite Development Clubs is a credit to their past success and their commitment to open athlete development," said USATF Club Council Chair David Oja. "We look forward to increasing the number and geographic coverage of such outstanding USATF clubs throughout the next four years."

More information on the program, including a 2008 Olympiad Elite Development Club application, can be found at www.usatf.org/clubs/programs/EliteDevelopmentClubs.